Semi-pro Alabama Crusaders football team meets fans in Pelham

The Alabama Crusaders, a semi-pro football team in the Xtreme Southern Football League (XSFL), play their first home game on March 2 at Pelham HIgh School.

PELHAM, Alabama -- Players and coaches with the semi-pro Alabama Crusaders football team met with the public Saturday in Pelham, selling tickets and getting acquainted with potential fans.

Head coach Richard Haynes said that the Crusaders are trying to get the word out about a unique opportunity they have for local sports fans. "We have fifty quality football players, many of them from Alabama, Auburn, Samford, Miles, and other schools that fans in the area know," Haynes said. "We're giving fans the chance to watch some excellent football."

The Crusaders are part of the Xtreme Southern Football League (XSFL), a semi-pro organization designed to give players an opportunity to advance to the next level. The team recently had a player move on to the Knoxville Predators arena football team, and Haynes said that similar opportunities will be available to members of the team. "Players see that and think, that could be me," he said.

The team is made up of fifty players, including former Alabama linebacker Ezekial Knight, former Auburn wide receiver Vincent Cook, and all-time leading rusher from Miles University Walter Debbs. "We also have players from UAB and Samford," Haynes said. "These are players that fans will recognize."

The XSFL has nine teams from Alabama and Florida. "The teams are all between Warrior, Alabama, and Destin, Florida, which makes it easy to travel to for both the team and fans," Haynes said.

Every team will play every other team in the league, there will be a playoff, and a championship game at the end of the season in Mobile.

Haynes, a former coach at Pelham High School, and team owner Dewayne Moore are excited about the season, which will start on Feb. 23 against the Covington County Raiders in Andalusia. On March 2, the team will have their first home game against the Alabama Warriors at Pelham High School.

"We are a professionally-run team, with games in a safe environment," Haynes said. "It will be run very similarly to a regular college game, so fans will feel comfortable."

The Saturday event at Pelham gave Haynes and various players a chance to let people know about the team. "We want people to know that this is a great chance to watch football in the Spring," he said. "It gives you a chance to feed your football frenzy when the regular season is over."